6500 words

I had a wonderful holiday season but I was ready to get back to normal. I'm really excited about the prospects for 2008. I have 2 picture book manuscripts that are queried out to publishers. That was one of my goals for 2007.

I also have been working on my YA book. I didn't write for about 3 weeks after I wrote this one scene. I cried the whole time. I had never been so into what I was writing that I felt I was inside my character writing everything she felt.

I considered it growing as a writer. I just wrote what what she was saying. It was pretty cool.

What I'm reading: I just started Spanking Shakespeare by Jake Wiener

1st 5000 words

I've been working on my new YA novel and have just completed the first 5000 words. I haven't written 16 pages in a very long time. I did a middle grade novel about 5 years ago and have been focusing on picture books and short stories.

I'm loving my story and the research that has been going along with it. I've decided that when I finish, I'm going to get a professional critique.

I literally cried through an entire chapter. I've never experienced anything quite like that while writing. It was so bizarre. I could barely see my laptop because of the tears, but my fingers were flying as they told the story. It's something I'll definitely remember.